Term 2 Week 9 Newsletter 2025

Principal's Messages

CONCERT REHEARSALS HAVE BEGUN!!

We are delighted to announce that preparations for our much-anticipated biannual whole school concert are now well underway. This year, we are proud to be partnering once again with Fierce Performing Arts to deliver a memorable and engaging event for our school community.

All students from Kinder to Year 6 will have the opportunity to perform in the concert, showcasing their talents and hard work.

The concert will be held next term on Tuesday, 23rd September (Week 10) at 6pm in the St John’s College Hall. To prepare, students will continue with weekly rehearsals throughout the term.

Further details regarding costumes will be shared by your child’s class teacher. Information about ticket sales will be advertised early next term.

We look forward to sharing more updates as the concert approaches and celebrating the wonderful efforts of our students.

LEARNING ABOUT ANIMALS UP CLOSE: YEAR 1 & 2’S ZOO ADVENTURE

Last week, our Year 1 and 2 students enjoyed an exciting excursion to Taronga Western Plains Zoo as part of their Term 2 Science and Technology studies. This visit supported their learning about Living Things, where students have been exploring how animals’ features and needs change as they grow through different stages of life.

During the excursion, students had the opportunity to observe a variety of animals with unique lifecycles firsthand. They investigated the challenges these species face as they develop and grow, gaining a deeper understanding of the natural world.

Back at school, students will use what they learned to design animal habitats, encouraging them to think about how they can help support local wildlife.

The Taronga Western Plains Zoo visit provided a valuable, hands-on learning experience that brought the concepts from the classroom to life, inspiring curiosity and care for animals and their habitats.

We thank Mrs Kellie Rowe and Mrs Claire Bynon for their dedication and creative approach in organising this meaningful excursion. We also appreciate the learning support officers and parents who accompanied the students and helped make the day a success.

See our FaceBook page for more photos.

SEMESTER ONE REPORTS AVAILABLE ON COMPASS TODAY

We are pleased to inform you that your child’s Semester One report will be published on Compass today. Semester reports provide valuable insights into your child’s progress, achievements, and areas for growth across different learning areas.

We encourage you to take some time to read and review the report carefully with your child. Discussing the feedback together helps to celebrate successes and understand any challenges, fostering a positive attitude towards learning and goal-setting for the remainder of the year. The detailed comments from teachers offer important information about your child’s development and learning journey.

Weeks 9 and 10 have been set aside for parents to request interviews following the release of the reports. If you would like to discuss your child’s learning in more detail, please contact your child’s class teacher directly to arrange a suitable interview time during these weeks.

We appreciate your ongoing support and involvement in your child’s education.

How We Report Student Achievement: What A to E Grades Really Mean

A standards-referenced approach is used to report student achievement in NSW. Achievement standards are based on what students are expected to learn and how well they have achieved. The NSW syllabuses state what students at each stage are expected to learn. A to E grade scales describe how well students have achieved. Teachers make professional 'on-balance' judgements to decide which grade description best matches the standards their students have achieved. A to E grading is incorporated into Year 1 to 6 reports.

The A to E grading describes how well students have achieved that standard.

• We use the language of the descriptor to show the level of achievement - outstanding, high, sound, basic and limited
• Teachers incorporate relevant assessments that provide evidence of grade.

Assessments contain elements that will enable the students who are achieving at the various levels to show their level of competence. That is working towards or beyond grade level.

The Assessment Resource Centre (ARC) provides work samples and other information to assist teachers to have a clear understanding of standards at each grade level.

The A to E grade scale summarises the standard (or quality) of achievement associated with each grade.
The scale describes:

• the depth of knowledge and understanding
• the range of skills that students working at that standard typically show

Grades are given for individual achievement. Students are given the grade that best matches the standard of their achievement.

Teachers are not limited to set numbers of each grade within their class or school. Teachers must assess and grade against what has been taught for that semester. This is aligned to the content specified by stage outcomes.

CALLING FOR VOLUNTEERS – SOCCER GALA DAY

Our much-anticipated Soccer Gala Day will be held on Friday 8th August, and we are excited to welcome schools from across the region for a day of sport, fun, and community spirit! This is a highlight on our school calendar and serves as our major fundraiser for the year, coordinated in conjunction with our dedicated P&F Committee.

To make the day a success, we’re reaching out to our wonderful school community for support. Whether you can spare an hour or help for the full day, your time and energy will make a big difference.

Ways you can get involved:

• Early morning setup

• Supply cakes or other goodies for the Cake Stall

• Assist at the Cake Stall (setup and serving)

• Support in the Canteen throughout the day

• Distribute lunches at lunchtime

• Help pack down and take down soccer nets in the afternoon

This day simply couldn’t happen without the help of our volunteers. It’s also a fantastic way to meet other families and contribute to a wonderful school tradition that benefits all our students.

If you're able to volunteer in any way, please contact the school office or respond to the volunteer form going home soon.

Thank you for helping us make this year’s Gala Day a fun and successful event!

WHOLE SCHOOL MEET 4 MASS – A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

It was wonderful to see many of our students attend Mass on Sunday alongside their families for our whole school Meet 4 Mass event. Sharing this special time together supports your child’s faith development and helps to strengthen their connection with our broader church community.

It was particularly lovely to see students helping with the Prayers of the Faithful, and the presence of our Year 3 students handing out their prayer cards as they continue to prepare for their First Holy Communion added a special touch to the occasion.

This was also Fr Nam’s final Sunday Mass at St Brigid’s before he moves to Bathurst. He thoroughly enjoyed handing out lollipops to the children one last time - a gesture he’s become well known for and one that will be fondly remembered by many of our families.

Attending Mass as a family is a meaningful way to nurture your child’s spiritual growth and reinforces the important link between home, school, and church. These experiences provide a foundation for children to develop a deeper understanding of their faith and encourage a sense of belonging within our parish.

We warmly encourage all families to continue participating in Mass regularly and to embrace this valuable tradition as part of their family life. It is through coming together in faith that we build a strong, supportive community for our children to flourish.

100 NIGHTS OF READING SUPERSTAR

Another student happy to be checking off 100 nights of home reading last week! We love celebrating reading at St Laurence's and encourage our students to develop a love and enthusiasm for reading. When students achieve 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 nights of Home Reading they are rewarded with a special book prize from my Book Box.

THE FRIENDSHIP FIRST-AID KIT: TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S SOCIAL SUPER-POWERS

Navigating friendships is a big part of school life. As adults, we know the ups and downs of relationships - so it’s no surprise that for children, friendships can feel like a rollercoaster. Helping our children manage these experiences builds their confidence, resilience, and wellbeing.

There is another great article by parenting expert Michael Grose titled “The Friendship First-Aid Kit: Expert Tools for Parents (and Kids),” and I thought it was a useful resource to share with families in our school community.

Michael Grose reminds us that as parents, our role isn’t to swoop in and solve every problem - but to guide our children and help them learn how to manage these social bumps for themselves. Building these skills now will serve them for a lifetime.

10 Friendship Tools Every Child (and Parent) Needs

Here are some key strategies you can use to support your child when friendships get tricky:

💬 1. Listen First, Judge Later
When your child comes to you with a friendship issue, start by simply listening - really listening - without jumping to fix the problem. Phrases like "That sounds upsetting" or "Tell me more…” help your child feel heard and valued.

🧠 2. Help Identify the Real Problem
Guide your child to reflect on what’s really bothering them. Questions like “What exactly made you feel left out?” help them move beyond the emotions and begin problem-solving.

🛠️ 3. Brainstorm Solutions Together
Resist offering quick answers - instead, help them come up with a few options. Ask, “What might you say?” or “Have you seen others handle this before?”

🎭 4. Practise with Role Play
Help your child rehearse what they might say in a similar situation. Practising phrases like “Can I have a turn when you’re done?” builds confidence.

🔄 5. Focus on What They Can Control
They can’t change others’ behaviour - but they can choose how to respond, set boundaries, and decide how much time to spend with certain friends.

🤝 6. Teach the Levels of Friendship
Not all friendships are equal. Help your child understand the difference between close friends, casual friends, and acquaintances - and that it’s okay for friendships to shift over time.

💓 7. Promote Empathy
Ask questions like “How do you think your friend felt?” to encourage your child to understand others’ perspectives.

🌟 8. Define What a Good Friend Is
Talk about qualities of healthy friendships - sharing, trust, kindness, and allowing space for other friendships too.

👏 9. Celebrate Effort, Not Just Outcomes           
Even if a conflict doesn’t resolve perfectly, praise the skills your child used - talking it through, showing empathy, or standing up for themselves.

🌱 10. Acknowledge That Friendships Change
Children change, grow, and move in different directions. Help your child understand that it’s natural to drift apart and that they can make new friends based on shared interests.

🧭 Guiding, Not Rescuing
Your role as a parent is part guide, part emotional support, and part teacher. By walking alongside your child as they face social challenges, you're giving them the tools they need to develop resilience, emotional intelligence, and confidence in handling real-world relationships.

Source: “The Friendship First-Aid Kit: Expert Tools for Parents (and Kids)” by Michael Grose, Parenting Ideas.
👉 Click here to read the full article https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelgrose/p/the-friendship-first-aid-kit-expert?r=5729yh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Religious Education

Gospel Focus

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” and Peter responds with great faith, calling Him the Son of the living God. Jesus then tells Peter that he is the rock on which He will build His Church. This reminds us that our faith in Jesus is the foundation for our lives too. When we stand strong in our belief and live with love, kindness and courage, we help build a community that reflects God’s love. Like Peter, we are all called to be rocks—strong in faith, humble in heart, and ready to follow Jesus wherever He leads.

Preparation Sessions for Confirmation Begin This Week

Students and a parent are asked to attend one of the following Confirmation preparation sessions:

• Tuesday, 24th June at 6:15pm (following the 5:45pm Mass)

• Wednesday, 25th June at 4:30pm

• Sunday, 29th June at 10:00am (following the 9:00am Mass)

All sessions will be held at St Brigid’s Church Hall.
Thank you for your support as we journey together in preparing our students to receive this special sacrament.

First Holy Communion Enrolment – Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th June
Enrolment for First Holy Communion will take place during Mass at St Brigid’s Church on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June.
Students in Year 3 are especially encouraged to attend Mass this weekend as part of their preparation.

Term 2 Events

MASS TIMES: St. Brigid’s: Saturday - 5:00pm, Sunday - 9:00am and Sunday - 5:00pm.

St. Laurence’s Church: Monday- 9:30am, Wednesday - 9:30am, Friday -12 noon and Sunday - 7:30am

Sports

Rugby Union Gala Day - Postponed

The Rugby Union Gala Day that Eddie, Charlie, Campbell, Tucker, Archie and Lawson were scheduled to attend in Orange has been postponed. The boys were set to join teams from Gulgong and Bathurst for the day. A new date will be confirmed and communicated with parents once available.

Athletics Carnival

Our school Athletics Carnival will be held on Wednesday 25th June (Week 9).
All students are to be dropped off at DCL Park (Barden Park) between 8:20am and 8:50am. Upon arrival, students must be signed in by a parent or caregiver. Sign-in sheets will be located at the entrance to Barden Park.

Students are encouraged to wear their house colours, and a reminder that school hats are compulsory.

Kinder and Year 1

Kindergarten and Year 1 students will attend the Athletics Carnival and join our primary students for the house marching at the beginning of the day. They will then move on to their own athletics activities.

Kindergarten and Year 1 students will ‘have a go’ at the following events:

• High Jump (no bar – just jumping onto the mats)
• Long Jump
• Discus
• Shot Put

After these events, students will have their fruit break before rotating through a series of tabloid activities. Once these are complete, they will have recess. A canteen will be available for recess purchases.

Please note that all times are approximate. Kindergarten and Year 1 students will participate in their 70m sprint races (eight children per race) at approximately 12:00pm.

Primary

All students will participate in their 100m age race. Students have also nominated for the 200m, 800m, and 1500m races, as well as the field events.

Volunteers

We kindly ask that all parents and carers volunteering at the Athletics Carnival sign a Volunteer Declaration Form upon arrival. These forms will be available in the staff area of the complex and must be completed before assisting in any capacity. This is a requirement to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students and aligns with our school and system policies regarding volunteers. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Soccer Gala Day

Our annual Soccer Gala Day will be held on Friday the 8th August. Some classes are still looking for team managers for the day. If you are able to assist please email your class teacher.

Library

2025 Book Week

The theme for the 2025 Children's Book Week in Australia, presented by the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA), is "Book an Adventure!". This theme encourages children to see reading as a way to explore new worlds, ideas, and characters. The CBCA is also celebrating the 80th anniversary of Children's Book Week in 2025. 

We will celebrate book week in Term 3 Week 2. Our parade will combine with Grandparents day on Friday the 1st of August. 

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

As part of our ongoing commitment to Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) each class spends time reviewing and learning about the expectations in specific areas. The focus can be developed from feedback and data. This week our focus is the toilets. 

Being safe in the toilets means:

• We wash our hands using soap and water after using the toilets
• We keep the floor dry
• We have only one person per cubicle
• We leave our food outside
• Games are for the playground

Being responsible in the toilets means:

• We move away from the toilet area when we are not using them
• We use the toilets appropriately 
• We flush the toilet after we have finished
• We turn taps off
• We wait for friends outside
• We return to class promptly 

Being respectful in the toilets means:

• We respect other people’s privacy
• We clean up after ourselves

Canteen

Term 3 volunteers

We are still looking for volunteers for our Term 3 canteen roster. Assisting in the canteen requires you to serve food, help sort and organise lunch orders, cook food, washing and cleaning up between the hours of 10am and 1:30pm on Fridays. 

A volunteer note went home last week if you are able to assist, please return the note ASAP or contact the school office.

Dates to remember

Birthdays

Awards

SUPER SPELLERS

We are thrilled to celebrate our Super Spellers with certificates awarded to students who have achieved a benchmark score of 92% or higher across 30 lessons (6 tests). It's fantastic to see the progress our students are making in their spelling, and we’re excited to acknowledge their hard work and dedication!

Events

Community News